South Africa is an African nation that has a high demand when it comes to safari destinations since the country has a large supply of wildlife, spectacular scenery, and the best conservation programs in the world. Although South Africa hosts plenty of national parks, the finest scope of the private game reserves is in the country to experience the beauty of the African wild come in an exclusive and unmatched way. The wildlife viewing is unmatched in these private reserves, the accommodation is luxurious and the clients get to experience a more intimate and personalized safari experience without the crowds. This guide will discuss the 10 best private game reserves in South Africa, and they are all unique destinations to safari lovers.
1. Sabi Sands Game Reserve: Jewel of South Africa Safari Destinations.
The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is known to be among the finest one-stop game reserves in South Africa, and with reason. Sabi Sands is a game reserve that offers some of the best wildlife viewing experience especially in its immense number of leopards, which are found in close proximity to the world-known Kruger National Park. There are several luxury lodges found in the reserve giving the privilege of the ultimate safari experience and they include but are not restricted to the following lodges: Singita, Londolozi and Elephant Plains.
Sabi Sands is a small and personalized safari lounge where its visitors can experience the pleasure of being on their own game drive in open 4X4s with professional rangers and trackers. The Big Five are found in the large landscapes of the reserve, which consist of riverine forests, savannahs and open plains, and cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas can easily be spotted. The possibility of seeing leopards, which is one of the most elusive big cats within Africa, makes Sabi Sands the dream of all wildlife photographers and safari enthusiasts.
2. Shambala Private Game Reserve: Waterberg Interlude.
Another best private game reserve in South Africa, which offers guests a quiet and comfortable retreat into nature, is nestled in Waterberg Mountains in Limpopo and is known as the Shambala Private Game Reserve. The reserve boasts dramatic landscapes, which offer a close-up safari experience accompanied by beautiful views, a wide range of wildlife, and focus on conservation.
The Big Five is also found in Shambala, and other large species such as cheetah, giraffe and different groups of birds are also present there. One more reason why the reserve is known as the place of sustainable practices and support of local communities is also connected with the schemes. Shambala can provide an exclusive and serene safari experience with the number of guests being kept to a minimum of those who are relaxing and want to be adventurous at the same time.
3. Pilanesberg Game Reserve: Adventure in the Wilderness with the Whole Family.
Pilanesberg Game Reserve is one of the most easily accessible South African Game Reserves despite it being a private game reserve and still providing marvelous wildlife experience, even just a few minutes drive away Johannesburg. The reserve is located in the crater of an ancient volcano and has got a distinct landscape, consisting of rolling hills, grasslands and bushveld. The Big Five along with a large number of antelopes species, zebras and giraffes can be found at Pilanesberg.
The reserve is particularly accommodative to the family and has varieties of lodges and camps that can accommodate both the adults and children with customized game drives and educational programs to suit the young individuals. The closeness of Pilanesberg to Pretoria and Johannesburg makes it among the best private game reserves in South Africa where an individual wishes to experience Safari yet is willing to travel far.
4. Madikwe Game reserve: a big five safari in the North west.
Madikwe Game Reserve is a private game reserve found in North West Province of South Africa and one of the larger and most ecologically diverse reserves in South Africa. Madikwe is a small yet exclusive and intimate safari destination because of its beautiful nature and high population of wildlife. The reserve contains an assortment of animals including The Big Five, wild dogs, cheetahs, and more than 350 species of birds.
Maddies has the advantage of being easily accessible, only a few hours out of Johannesburg, it is possible to have a luxurious safari without the hours of travel time it would normally take to the remoteness of some regions. The luxurious lodges in the reserve including Royal Madikwe and Motswiri Private Safari Lodge offer guests high-quality accommodation and services and every visitor will have a relaxing and memorable stay.
5. Kwando Private Game Reserve: The Secret of the Eastern Cape.
Kwando Private Game Reserve has been a not so well-known but equally remarkable private game reserve in South Africa that is hidden deep in the center of the Eastern Cape. It is an exclusive and personalized safari experience that shares a focus with wildlife conservation and eco-tourism. The Big Five can be found in Kwando, and other animals including giraffes, zebras and wildebeest among others can be found here due to the vast wild nature of the land.
The lodges in the reserve, such as Kwando River Lodge and Kwando Plains Camp, provide an exclusive and luxurious accommodation with a possibility of individual game walks and bush walks. Be it a regular safari-goer or a first-time visitor, Kwando is an experience that is immersive and distinct and enables the guests to forget the outside world and reconnect with nature.
6. Tswalu Kalahari Game reserve: A Desert Island of Wild life and Luxury.
Tswalu Kalahari Game reserve is another best privately owned game reserve in South Africa that may be the right place to find the safari experience in a totally different scenery. Tswalu is a massive private game reserve in the Kalahari Desert and the biggest game reserve in the country, where visitors can have the best experience of the austere nature of the desert, experiencing a wide variety of animals.
Several rare species such as the black-maned lion, cheetahs and the Kalahari black rhino are found in the reserve. Private game drives and guided walking safaris are available to the guests under the guidance of skilled trackers and guides. With the luxurious lodges, like Tswalu The Motse and Tswalu Tarkuni, which boast of a high level of comfort and individual plunge pools, huge suites and excellent services, Tswalu makes an ideal destination to those who want to have a very exclusive experience in the desert safari.
7. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Conservation Success Story at the Eastern Cape.
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a small luxury safari in Eastern Cape, which contributes to the conservation of wildlife. The prominent five and a large number of other fauna such as hippo, giraffes, and a rich birdlife are found in the reserve. Kwandwe has also pioneered effort in conservation of the rhinos and it is a greater initiative to conserve endangered species in South Africa.
Kwandwe, has some of the finest lodges including Kwandwe Ecca Lodge and Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge that provide the guest an exclusive and upscale safari experience that includes the use of personal game drives and walking safaris, etc. The closeness and commitment to conservation has made it one of the best private best game reserves in South Africa in case an individual wants a large experience with a luxury view and at the same time engage in a form of sustainable practice.
8. Phinda Private Game Reserve: Multicultural Safari in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Phinda Private Game Reserve is located in the KwaZulu-Natal province and it presents one of the most diverse safari experiences in South Africa. Phinda is well known regarding its diverse habitats such as the forest and wetlands as well as grasslands which offers a lot of opportunity in viewing wildlife. The Big Five, and other rare animals, including cheetahs, wild dogs, and black rhinos, are found in the reserve.
Phinda is also popular with their luxurious lodges including Phinda Mountain Lodge and Phinda Rock Lodge that provide good size suites with their own plunge pools and the breathtaking scenery of the nearby wild forest. You like a game drive, you prefer walking safari or even a boat safari through the nearby Mzinene River, Phinda has many options of activities that the visitor can engage in to obtain the diversity of the ecosystem of the reserve.
9. Lion Sands Wilderness Reserve: A traditional Safari in Sabi Sands.
Lion Sands Game Reserve, which is situated in the renowned sabi sands game reserve, is among the most legendary game reserves in South Africa, which is a private reserve. The reserve boasts of a great number of leopards and other wildlife including lions, elephants and buffalo. Lion Sands is a traditional safari with luxurious accommodation in the Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodges.
The design of the lodge is in line with the beauty of nature in the surrounding area and every suite has its own private plunge pool and a broad viewing deck. The guests will have an opportunity to enjoy game drives, guided walks, and river cruises, and the various wildlife that is a home to the reserve.
10. UlusabaPrivate Game Reserve: Luxurious Sabi Sands Escapade.
Sir Richard Branson is the owner of Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, which is one of the finest private game reserves in South Africa to stay in and enjoy the finest luxury and exclusivity. Located in the Sabi Sands, Ulusaba has top quality accommodation facilities such as the magnificent Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge. Both lodges have a distinct design to bring about most comfort and incredible sceneries of the adjacent wilderness.
Ulusaba is popular in terms of good game viewing especially sighting of leopards and its safari facilities are composed of game drives, walking safaris, and individual bush picnics. This environmental conservation orientation of the reserve, accompanied with its exclusive luxury environment, makes it one of the best destinations to see the safari by people interested in a memorable visit.
Conclusion: Selecting Best South African Private Game Reserves.
No matter whether you want to experience an exclusive and intimate safari or to have an opportunity to see the Big Five in some of the most pristine sights and South Africa, the best private game reserves in South Africa will provide you with variety of unbelievable possibilities. Sabi Sands and Phinda are luxurious lodges, but we know of the Shambala and Tswalu Kalahari, where it is possible to find a unique and memorable way to experience the African wilderness.
These personal reserves are committed to providing a luxury safari experience as well as contributing to conservation activities that contribute to safeguarding the wildlife in South Africa as generational inheritance. To those who need the right mix of the wilderness, rest, and the wildlife; the South African private reserves offer the tourists an unmatched chance, where they can explore the pristine biodiversity of the continent in a comfortable and elegant way.
